A software malfunction of Bangladesh’s customs authority has halved export-import activities in Chittagong Port during the last five days after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) updated its online system at the weekend.
Most of the customs officials, shipping agents, C&F agents, and people involved in the export-import trade have been failing to enter the online system, submit data, bill of lading, and export and import general manifesto.
These have severely disrupted exim-related activities in the port city of Chittagong.
The National Board of Revenue, the parent organization of the Chittagong Customs House, upgraded its Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World System recently. However, since then, most of the users have been failing to enter into the system or work properly.
The ASYCUDA system is customs house’s online software through which it gives approval for all kinds export-import related documents on day-to-day basis. Without approval through the online system, no export or import trade can be done. No containers can go out or come into Bangladesh without submitting proper information into the ASYCUDA system.
Officials say that due to the software glitch, submission of daily import bills have gone down to some 800 or less from a usual 2,000 per day.
Due to this problem, the shipping companies are failing to submit import and export general manifest, while the C&F agents are failing to get clearance by paying duties.
Data shows that on a usual day some 5,000 TEUs are being delivered from the Chittagong port. However, during the last couple of days the Bangladeshi port has handled 2,500 – 4,000 TEUs.
